Falcons Nest - Oct. 10
A weekly recap of O'Neal Athletics
FALCONS NEST
10/9/2025
Varsity Boys Soccer:
O’Neal vs Village Christian Academy: 1-4
The O’Neal Falcons Boys Varsity Soccer Team saw their SAC Conference Tournament run come to a close this week after a 4-1 defeat to the Village Christian Academy Knights. Though the match began in difficult fashion, the Falcons showed resilience and character to finish strong against one of the conference’s top sides.
The opening minute was a tough one for O’Neal, as the Knights capitalized on two quick opportunities to take an early 2-0 lead. The Falcons worked to settle into the match but conceded again around the 10-minute mark, falling into a 3-0 hole.
Despite the rough start, O’Neal refused to fold. The Falcons began stringing passes together, creating a handful of quality chances before halftime. While the score remained 3-0 at the break, the Falcons’ growing confidence hinted at a stronger second half to come.
After regrouping, O’Neal came out with purpose in the second period, matching the Knights’ stride for stride and generating several dangerous attacks. The Falcons even appeared to have found the net, but the goal was waved off for offsides.
Village Christian extended its lead midway through the half, but the Falcons immediately answered with a brilliant individual effort from Rhett Hardin, who battled through defenders and slotted home O’Neal’s lone goal of the night. From there, the Falcons kept pressing, holding VCA scoreless the rest of the way and effectively playing them to a draw in the second half.
While the final score read 4-1, the Falcons’ fight and second-half response showcased the team’s progress and spirit heading into postseason play.
O’Neal now turns its attention to the State Tournament, with their opening match set for Tuesday.
O’Neal vs Village Christian Academy: 1-4
The O’Neal Falcons Boys Varsity Soccer Team saw their SAC Conference Tournament run come to a close this week after a 4-1 defeat to the Village Christian Academy Knights. Though the match began in difficult fashion, the Falcons showed resilience and character to finish strong against one of the conference’s top sides.
The opening minute was a tough one for O’Neal, as the Knights capitalized on two quick opportunities to take an early 2-0 lead. The Falcons worked to settle into the match but conceded again around the 10-minute mark, falling into a 3-0 hole.
Despite the rough start, O’Neal refused to fold. The Falcons began stringing passes together, creating a handful of quality chances before halftime. While the score remained 3-0 at the break, the Falcons’ growing confidence hinted at a stronger second half to come.
After regrouping, O’Neal came out with purpose in the second period, matching the Knights’ stride for stride and generating several dangerous attacks. The Falcons even appeared to have found the net, but the goal was waved off for offsides.
Village Christian extended its lead midway through the half, but the Falcons immediately answered with a brilliant individual effort from Rhett Hardin, who battled through defenders and slotted home O’Neal’s lone goal of the night. From there, the Falcons kept pressing, holding VCA scoreless the rest of the way and effectively playing them to a draw in the second half.
While the final score read 4-1, the Falcons’ fight and second-half response showcased the team’s progress and spirit heading into postseason play.
O’Neal now turns its attention to the State Tournament, with their opening match set for Tuesday.
Varsity Volleyball:
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 19-25, 25-14), W
The Falcons closed out their regular season with a rematch against the Bulldogs, a team that had edged O’Neal in five sets earlier this year. This time, on the Bulldogs’ home court during their Senior Night, the Falcons flipped the script with a four-set victory.
O’Neal battled through errors in the opening three sets, particularly at the service line, where missed opportunities added pressure. Communication lapses and hesitation at key moments also created challenges, and in the third set the Falcons were unable to overcome the deficit.
The fourth set, however, told a different story. Determined to finish strong, O’Neal tightened its play, communicated with urgency, and brought relentless energy from the first point to the last.
The offense caught fire behind setter Lily Stanley’s incredible 36 assists, feeding a balanced attack led by Kennedi Hamner (19 kills), Laura Shulze (13 kills), and Elli Hood (12 kills). From the service line, Myer Johnson and Laura Shulze each tallied 4 aces, keeping Berean on their heels. Defensively, libero Jordin Reed anchored the back row with 25 digs, while Hamner added 23 digs to round out a gritty team effort.
O’Neal vs Northwood Temple Academy: 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 17-25), L
In Tuesday’s semifinal matchup against Northwood Temple, the Falcons traveled to Fayetteville for what has long been one of their toughest environments to play in. Despite coming in with confidence from recent upset victories, the energy and execution that had fueled last week’s success proved difficult to replicate in the Eagles’ gym. Compounding the challenge, illnesses plagued a few key players, further testing the team’s depth.
Early serving errors, offensive struggles, and moments of miscommunication defensively made it hard for the Falcons to find their rhythm. Though they battled back in the opening two sets, both slipped away by narrow margins. In the third, O’Neal came out aggressive and determined to shift the momentum but couldn’t quite turn the tide.
Statistically, Hamner and Hood each tallied 2 aces; Reed anchored the defense with 17 digs, Hamner added 8 kills, and Stanley finished with 9 assists. While the result wasn’t what the Falcons hoped for, the grit and determination they showed all season set a strong foundation as they head into state play with confidence and momentum.
O’Neal vs Berean Baptist Academy: 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 19-25, 25-14), W
The Falcons closed out their regular season with a rematch against the Bulldogs, a team that had edged O’Neal in five sets earlier this year. This time, on the Bulldogs’ home court during their Senior Night, the Falcons flipped the script with a four-set victory.
O’Neal battled through errors in the opening three sets, particularly at the service line, where missed opportunities added pressure. Communication lapses and hesitation at key moments also created challenges, and in the third set the Falcons were unable to overcome the deficit.
The fourth set, however, told a different story. Determined to finish strong, O’Neal tightened its play, communicated with urgency, and brought relentless energy from the first point to the last.
The offense caught fire behind setter Lily Stanley’s incredible 36 assists, feeding a balanced attack led by Kennedi Hamner (19 kills), Laura Shulze (13 kills), and Elli Hood (12 kills). From the service line, Myer Johnson and Laura Shulze each tallied 4 aces, keeping Berean on their heels. Defensively, libero Jordin Reed anchored the back row with 25 digs, while Hamner added 23 digs to round out a gritty team effort.
O’Neal vs Northwood Temple Academy: 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 17-25), L
In Tuesday’s semifinal matchup against Northwood Temple, the Falcons traveled to Fayetteville for what has long been one of their toughest environments to play in. Despite coming in with confidence from recent upset victories, the energy and execution that had fueled last week’s success proved difficult to replicate in the Eagles’ gym. Compounding the challenge, illnesses plagued a few key players, further testing the team’s depth.
Early serving errors, offensive struggles, and moments of miscommunication defensively made it hard for the Falcons to find their rhythm. Though they battled back in the opening two sets, both slipped away by narrow margins. In the third, O’Neal came out aggressive and determined to shift the momentum but couldn’t quite turn the tide.
Statistically, Hamner and Hood each tallied 2 aces; Reed anchored the defense with 17 digs, Hamner added 8 kills, and Stanley finished with 9 assists. While the result wasn’t what the Falcons hoped for, the grit and determination they showed all season set a strong foundation as they head into state play with confidence and momentum.
Middle School Cross Country:
Last week, a select group of O’Neal runners competed at the prestigious Great American XC Festival at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, taking on a challenging two-mile course that included a grueling 600-meter uphill finish. Competing against top club athletes and seasoned teams, the Falcons ran with heart and determination.
Abigail Schupp led the girls’ squad with a 21st-place finish out of 129 runners, clocking 13:10. At the same time, David Risseeuw posted a 26th-place finish out of 170 boys with a time of 12:35. The team effort was equally impressive, with the Falcon girls placing 7th. The Falcon boys securing 4th—an outstanding accomplishment for the team’s first time competing at this level.
The Falcons returned to action at the Covenant Prep Invitational at the National Athletic Village, tackling a demanding course of sandy trails and rolling hills. The boys’ team utilized a strong “pack running” strategy to claim first place, with the top five runners finishing 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th. Top contributors included Charlie Borland, David Risseeuw, Eason Hodgkin, Hunter Monroe, and Nate Trujillo.
The girls’ team also excelled, finishing third overall with a determined performance. Abigail Schupp captured first place with a 12:28 finish, followed closely by Olivia Hardee, Lucy Emond, Avery Pohlmeyer, and Julie Wilson.
The Falcons continue to impress with their positive attitude and relentless effort. Next up, O’Neal will host the SAC Conference Championship Meet on Tuesday, October 14th, where the team looks to build on their recent success.
Last week, a select group of O’Neal runners competed at the prestigious Great American XC Festival at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, taking on a challenging two-mile course that included a grueling 600-meter uphill finish. Competing against top club athletes and seasoned teams, the Falcons ran with heart and determination.
Abigail Schupp led the girls’ squad with a 21st-place finish out of 129 runners, clocking 13:10. At the same time, David Risseeuw posted a 26th-place finish out of 170 boys with a time of 12:35. The team effort was equally impressive, with the Falcon girls placing 7th. The Falcon boys securing 4th—an outstanding accomplishment for the team’s first time competing at this level.
The Falcons returned to action at the Covenant Prep Invitational at the National Athletic Village, tackling a demanding course of sandy trails and rolling hills. The boys’ team utilized a strong “pack running” strategy to claim first place, with the top five runners finishing 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th. Top contributors included Charlie Borland, David Risseeuw, Eason Hodgkin, Hunter Monroe, and Nate Trujillo.
The girls’ team also excelled, finishing third overall with a determined performance. Abigail Schupp captured first place with a 12:28 finish, followed closely by Olivia Hardee, Lucy Emond, Avery Pohlmeyer, and Julie Wilson.
The Falcons continue to impress with their positive attitude and relentless effort. Next up, O’Neal will host the SAC Conference Championship Meet on Tuesday, October 14th, where the team looks to build on their recent success.
Varsity Girls Tennis
O'Neal vs. Burlington Christian Academy: Final 5-4, Win
On Friday, October 3rd the O'Neal Falcons took to their home courts for their last regular season match against Burlington Christian Academy. In an effort to change things up, the Falcons would begin with singles play and immediately lines 1 and 2 proved to be tough competition. Sydney Davis had another convincing win at line 3 (6-0, 6-3) finishing the regular season with an impressive record of 8-0 in her line 3 singles matches. Valentina Roberts at line 5 and Izzy Grotzke at line 6 both came away with straight set wins after 2nd set tie breaks! At the conclusion of singles play, the teams were tied 3-3. The Falcons would have to show some strong doubles play to come away with a match victory. To make matters more intense, the line 1 doubles team lost first and lines 2 and 3 would have to both win to secure the match. After some great team play and relentless effort, the Falcons pulled out close wins in dramatic fashion of 8-4 and 8-5!
O'Neal vs. Fayetteville Christian: Final 9-0, Win
With the conclusion of the regular season last week, the Falcons were ready to move to conference play. On Tuesday, October 7th, the higher seeded Falcons welcomed the team from Fayetteville Christian to their home courts for the conference semifinals. Again, starting with singles play, this time the Falcons were able to dominate and win all 6 singles lines. Vivienne Rhue and Beth Cordero won their 2nd set tie breakers to both win in straight sets. Moving to doubles play, Hannah Claire and Sydney Davis won in fast fashion 8-0. At line 2 Vivienne and Valentina stayed strong and after a long battle won their doubles 9-8 (9-7 in the tiebreaker). The Falcons look to take on Fayetteville Academy in Fayetteville on Thursday, October 9th for the conference finals. Let's go Falcons!
O'Neal vs. Burlington Christian Academy: Final 5-4, Win
On Friday, October 3rd the O'Neal Falcons took to their home courts for their last regular season match against Burlington Christian Academy. In an effort to change things up, the Falcons would begin with singles play and immediately lines 1 and 2 proved to be tough competition. Sydney Davis had another convincing win at line 3 (6-0, 6-3) finishing the regular season with an impressive record of 8-0 in her line 3 singles matches. Valentina Roberts at line 5 and Izzy Grotzke at line 6 both came away with straight set wins after 2nd set tie breaks! At the conclusion of singles play, the teams were tied 3-3. The Falcons would have to show some strong doubles play to come away with a match victory. To make matters more intense, the line 1 doubles team lost first and lines 2 and 3 would have to both win to secure the match. After some great team play and relentless effort, the Falcons pulled out close wins in dramatic fashion of 8-4 and 8-5!
O'Neal vs. Fayetteville Christian: Final 9-0, Win
With the conclusion of the regular season last week, the Falcons were ready to move to conference play. On Tuesday, October 7th, the higher seeded Falcons welcomed the team from Fayetteville Christian to their home courts for the conference semifinals. Again, starting with singles play, this time the Falcons were able to dominate and win all 6 singles lines. Vivienne Rhue and Beth Cordero won their 2nd set tie breakers to both win in straight sets. Moving to doubles play, Hannah Claire and Sydney Davis won in fast fashion 8-0. At line 2 Vivienne and Valentina stayed strong and after a long battle won their doubles 9-8 (9-7 in the tiebreaker). The Falcons look to take on Fayetteville Academy in Fayetteville on Thursday, October 9th for the conference finals. Let's go Falcons!
Falcon Athletics Next Week 10/13/25 - 10/18/25
NCISAA State playoff brackets will be announced Saturday 10/11/25
NCISAA State playoff brackets will be announced Saturday 10/11/25
DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | SPORT | H/A | EVENT TIME |
TUE | 10/14/25 | NCISAA 1st Round | BSOC | TBD | TBD |
TUE | 10/14/25 | NCISAA 1st Round | GTN | TBD | TBD |
TUE | 10/14/25 | NCISAA 1st Round | VB | TBD | TBD |
THU | 10/16/25 | NCISAA 2nd Round | BSOC | TBD | TBD |
THU | 10/16/25 | NCISAA 2nd Round | VB | TBD | TBD |
FRI | 10/17/25 | NCISAA 2nd Round | GTN | TBD | TBD |
SAT | 10/18/25 | NCISAA 3rd Round | BSOC | TBD | TBD |
THU | 10/9/2025 | SAC Finals | BSOC | TBD | 5:00PM |
THU | 10/9/2025 | SAC Finals | VB | TBD | 5:00PM |
THU | 10/9/2025 | SAC Finals | GTN | TBD | 3:30PM |
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